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Ringo Was Born in the Wild and Lived at MCZ for 45 Years
With heavy hearts, the Milwaukee County Zoo shares that longtime resident Ringo, a harbor seal, died on Nov. 26. Ringo was an estimated 46 years old, born in his natural range off the coast of California. He called MCZ “home” for more than four decades and will be greatly missed.
Ringo was easily recognizable as the largest of the Zoo’s harbor seals. He had slowly-progressing chronic eye disease in both eyes since 1985, with the right eye having a luxated lens with glaucoma and severe changes to his cornea, and the left eye having cataracts and corneal changes. Ringo was essentially blind and used the touch of his whiskers to navigate, becoming very familiar with his outdoor and indoor habitat. 
In August, his right eye ruptured, creating a hole in the cornea. Per veterinary ophthalmologist consultations, MCZ’s animal care team waited to see if the site of rupture would heal, before ultimately proceeding to eye removal surgery. However, the rupture site did not heal, and as the risk of infection increased, the team made the decision to remove Ringo’s right eye.
On Nov. 26, Ringo was anesthetized, with regional veterinary anesthesiologists and a local veterinary ophthalmologist assisting the MCZ team during the surgical procedure. Anesthesia on seals can be complex at any age, due to their physiological dive response and unique anatomy.
Unfortunately, Ringo experienced anesthetic complications during the procedure, and after numerous attempts, he was unable to be revived. A preliminary necropsy (animal autopsy) was conducted with no significant findings, and final results are expected in the next few weeks.
According to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the combined median life expectancy of a harbor seal living in human care is 23 years old. At 46, Ringo was the second oldest living harbor seal in an AZA-accredited organization in North America.
As an orphaned pup, Ringo first found himself at the former Marineland facility in California. Exactly how he came into human care and in need of rehabilitation is unknown. After a short time there, Ringo arrived at his new and permanent home — MCZ — in 1979. He spent many years in the company of MCZ’s sea lion and later, harbor seal populations. As part of Species Survival Plan® (SSP) breeding recommendations, Ringo fathered five male pups, four of whom are still living at other facilities. His daughter, Leia, was born in 2022 and resides here at MCZ. 
Ringo saw many changes over the years. He was present for the beginning of positive reinforcement training at MCZ and eagerly participated in numerous daily training sessions. Ringo was easy-going, and because of his sweet and calm disposition, he was often the first to work with new members of the animal care team. In fact, he trained with many zookeepers on operant conditioning and marine mammal husbandry.
Ringo was also well-known for taking naps at the bottom of the outdoor pool. Harbor seals can hold their breath for up to 30 minutes, and zookeepers responded to more than a few calls from concerned guests who saw him napping underwater.
Ringo was a particularly large harbor seal, putting on a thick layer of blubber in the fall to insulate from the cold winter ahead. The animal care team monitored him closely to keep him below 300 pounds for the winter and slimmed down to around 200 pounds for the summer. The animal care team fondly recalls how photogenic he was as he molted to a new fur coat each summer, with curly whiskers as the new ones grew in. Those who knew Ringo well will also remember his snoring when in a deep, relaxed sleep or pausing in the doorway for a rubdown by his care team.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), harbor seals are listed as a species of Least Concern. Harbor seal populations are currently stable in their natural range. The Zoo’s harbor seal herd includes:
With the absence of Ringo, the females have acted a bit nervous, sticking particularly close together. However, they’re all eating and participating in training normally and beginning to relax. MCZ may transfer in a male companion and breeding partner at a later, undetermined date.
The loss of Ringo is considerable, and his absence will be long felt. Guests can honor Ringo’s memory by purchasing an enrichment item from the Zoo’s Giving Tree for his daughter, Leia, and the other seals in our care. Monetary donations for harbor seal enrichment are also appreciated.
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